Turning Students into Historians
How do you engage students with primary sources and their community? Jasmine Alinder shares a success story!
1775 Colonial Newspaper Article
Smithsonian Barbara Clark Smith looks at what a colonial newspaper article says—and doesn’t say—about a Patriot protest.
Shays' Rebellion and the Making of a Nation
Engage your students in historical thinking with this interactive site on the rebellion led by Daniel Shays.
Here is New York
View photographs taken by everyday people as they came to terms with the 9/11 attacks, or watch oral histories.
Joe Hill
Union strikes. Murder. Itinerant songwriting. The life of martyr Joe Hill could hardly have been more dramatic or mysterious.
Anthony Pellegrino's Into the Weeds: Harnessing the Power of Music to Teach Social Studies
Present the context first, or later? Teaching with music can be valuable both ways, says teacher educator Anthony Pellegrino.
Zinn Education Project
Wanting to go deeper into the history of labor and marginalized groups in the U.S.?
Anthony Pellegrino: Let the Music Play!...in Our Classrooms
Teach with punk, hip hop, and classic rock with these suggestions from teacher educator Anthony Pellegrino.
United We Stand: Industry and Famous Strikes
Stand up (or sit down) for better working conditions! Test your knowledge of strikes in U.S. history.
We the People . . . Rarely Agree
What does the Constitution mean to you? Match each quote to the historical figure whose view of the Constitution it reveals.
A-mouldering in the Grave
“John Brown’s Body” keeps reappearing. What do you know about the song?
Feminist Art
Explorations of the body, self-reference, and the entanglement of art and politics have all been the themes of feminist art—as they have been themes of other art of our time.
The Era of Reform
Was the antebellum period the height of reform movements in U.S. history?
Seattle General Strike Project
In 1919, Seattle workers launched the first general strike in U.S. history. Explore labor history with over 100 newspaper articles and other sources on the strike.
True Americans in the Cold War
Looking for the Red in the Red, White, and Blue?
Voting Rights and the 14th Amendment
How did women suffer no suffrage through the 14th Amendment?
The Dramas of Haymarket
Written in the form of a drama, this website takes visitors through the Haymarket Affair.
Famous American Trials: "The Scottsboro Boys" Trials 1931-1937
Explore the infamous Scottboro case through a variety of primary source documents and images.
John Brown's Holy War
A variety of resources focused on the life and times of infamous abolitionist John Brown.
Trial of The Chicago Seven
Explore radical activism and 1960s culture through the trial of the Chicago Seven.
Bisbee Deportation of 1917
Learn about labor history through the infamous Bisbee Deportation.
Liberty! The American Revolution
The companion site to a PBS documentary, this website is a useful resource for scholars of the American Revolution.
Albert and Vera Weisbord Archives
Learn about American radicalism and the communist movement with this collection of primary sources.
The African American Odyssey: A Quest for Full Citizenship
A comprehensive guide consisting of over 240 primary source items detailing African American history.
Red Scare (1918-1921)
Could the Bolsheviks and radicalism destroy the American way of life?
The Underground Railroad
Travel the Underground Railroad with this interactive website.
John Brown and the Valley of the Shadow
A comprehensive collection of primary source materials which cover the infamous Harper’s Ferry raid.
Liberty Rhetoric and 19th-Century American Women
Compare early women’s rights campaigns to the rhetoric of the American Revolution.
The Crisis of the Union
An impressive array of tracts (and more) brought together for your convenience.
Civil Rights Oral History Interviews: Spokane, Washington
From racism to civil rights movement music, listen to the memories of these eight individuals.
Communism in Washington State--History and Memory Project
Communist Russia. Communist China. Communist Washington?
African-Americans--Biography, Autobiography, and History
Read a selection of the world’s greatest speeches by prominent African American figures.
Dox Thrash: An African American Master Printmaker Rediscovered
View depictions of African American life by artist Dox Thrash.
RFK in the Land of Apartheid: A Ripple of Hope
Examine the impact of Robert F. Kennedy’s anti-apartheid trip to South Africa.
Student Voices from World War II and the McCarthy Era
Imagine traveling from a university to work on a farm.
History Through Deaf Eyes
What has the U.S. deaf population experienced?
Brooklyn's Eighteenth-Century Lott House
Conduct your own “virtual dig” of a Dutch farmhouse.
Austin Treasures: Online Exhibits from the Austin History Center
Discover the depth of Austin, Texas’s urban history through 10 online exhibits containing images and essays.
Today in History Web Resources
Need to check a date? Have students report on their birth dates? Try here.
We Shall Overcome: Historic Places of the Civil Rights Movement
Which locations, open for visitation, are most relevant to the civil rights movement?
Labor Arts
What role has art had in the depiction and reality of U.S. labor?
American Colonization Society Collection: Maps of Liberia, 1830-1870
View maps of Liberia acquired during efforts to restore freedmen to Africa.
Heading West and Touring West
View maps of the West, while simultaneously looking into the lives of traveling performers.
Democratic Vistas: The William Clyde DeVane Lecture Series
Look to the past to consider the prospects of democracy in the U.S.
Agents of Social Change: 20th-Century Women's Activism
Source documents to help you approach 20th-century feminism.
Regional Oral History Office
Explore California oral histories, or learn to conduct your own interviews.
Free Speech Movement: Student Protest, U.C. Berkeley, 1964-65
Explore primary documents concerning the Berkeley Free Speech Movement.
An American Family: The Beecher Tradition
Did you know that Harriet Beecher Stowe’s family was also involved in abolitionism?
A Visual Journey: Photographs by Lisa Law, 1965-1971
Check out the music scene, communes, and protests of the 1960s.
Jo Freeman.com
Explore women’s political history and activism from the 1960s onward.
Hall of Black Achievement Gallery
Meet 30 influential African Americans who contributed across a wide variety of fields.
Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History
Right this way for Seattle and Washington state history resources.
May 4 Collection, Kent State University
What can we learn from the Kent State Riots?
Pioneering the Upper Midwest: Rare Books c. 1820-1910
Explore Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin life through rare books.
Brooklyn Daily Eagle Online (1841-1902)
Explore the history of Brooklyn, 1841 through 1902, with historical newspaper issues.
Earliest Voices: A Gallery from the Vincent Voice Library
Hear the conviction and charisma of seven renowned turn-of-the-century speakers.
The Uses & Abuses of the Constitution
What role did the Constitution play in the Clinton impeachment, women’s history, and gun control?
WTO History Project
Take a peek at Seattle protest history through the WTO Ministerial Week.
Woman's Legal History Biography Project
How many female lawyers can you think of in U.S. history?
The Pill
How has the birth control pill altered sexuality and feminine gender expectations?
Women Working, 1800-1930
What did women think of their work at home, in the arts, and in business?
American Memory Learning Page
Try lesson plans based on the Library of Congress’ American Memory collections.
Women of Valor
Meet international anarchist and women’s rights activist Emma Goldman.
Civil Rights Movement Veterans
Access the human stories of the civil rights movement.
Hard Hat Riots: An Online History Project
Learn about the Hard Hat Riots of New York with this innovative website.
A Curriculum of United States Labor History for Teachers
Learn about labor politics and economics throughout American history.
The Internet African-American History Challenge
A great website for introducing African American history to young or new students.
Women's History: The 1850 Worcester Convention
Learn about the First National Women’s Rights Convention and the greater women’s rights movement.
By Popular Demand: "Votes for Women" Suffrage Pictures, 1850-1920
View photographs, cartoons, and campaign items from the women’s suffrage movement.
Center for Working-Class Studies
Begin your study of working class and labor history with this website.
Living the Legacy: The Women's Rights Movement, 1848-1998
Learn about the women’s rights movement through the secondary sources offered by this website.
Documents from the Women's Liberation Movement
Explore over 50 documents which chronicle the history of the Women’s Liberation Movement.
Sixties Project & Viet Nam Generation
Learn about the Vietnam anti-war movement through this website.
National Women's History Project
Start your research into Women’s history with the National Women’s History Project.
Vietnam War Era Ephemera Collection
Explore campus protest ephemera and the youth movements of the 1960s and 70s.
Slavery and the Making of America
An extensive glimpse into slave life and the history of slavery in the United States.
Freedom Now! An Archival Project of Tougaloo College and Brown University
Immerse yourself in the historical struggle for the African American vote in Mississippi.
Benjamin Franklin: In His Own Words
Get to know Benjamin Franklin through his own writings, cartoons, and letters.
Library of Congress: Webcasts
Access more than 500 webcasts from the Library of Congress.
The History Box
Have a question about New York City or state history? More than 750 articles available.
The Malcolm X Project
Read FBI files on and watch interviews about Malcolm X, human and African American rights activist.
Jewish Women and the Feminist Revolution
What roles have Jewish women played in the Second Wave of feminism?
Teaching Future Historians: U.S. History Lesson Plans Using Primary Documents
A diverse array of Antebellum, Civil War, and Gilded Age lesson plans for your convenience.
Illinois During the Gilded Age
Listen to, read, and sing sources from the Gilded Age canvassing women, religion, and more.
Women of Protest: Images from the Records of the National Woman's Party
See the suffragettes who gave over 50% of U.S. citizens the right to vote.
Turning Points in Wisconsin History
Primary documents, background information, and lesson plans for Wisconsin history.
Negroes With Guns: Rob Williams and Black Power
Do you think armed resistance is a justifiable reaction to racism? Explore Rob William’s motives.
Seattle Black Panther Party History and Memory Project
Who exactly were the Black Panthers? Explore the history and memories of the Seattle chapter.
McKinley Assassination Ink: A Documentary History
Explore the assassination of President McKinley and the social context thereof.
Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse
Review litigation studies ranging from mental health facilities and jail conditions to equal employment.
The Lincoln Institute
Explore Lincoln’s presidency; and access related classroom resources, including lesson plans.
North American Women's Letters and Diaries: Colonial Times to 1950
Read the personal correspondence and diaries of women such as Phyllis Wheatley and Margaret Fuller.
Atlanta in the Civil Rights Movement
What was Atlanta’s role in the larger African American civil rights movement 1940 through 1970?
The Case of Sacco and Vanzetti
Criminal history, the Jazz Age, and the Red Scare all in one legal case. Understand the early 20th century through the Case of Sacco and Vanzetti.
The Adoption History Project
Did you know that adoption was only recognized as a legal U.S. operation in 1851?
Red White Blue & Brimstone: New World Literature and the American Millennium
Texts throughout U.S. history have featured imagery from the Book of Revelations, including the the documents on this site.
Why Was the Boston Tea Party Not Stopped by British Troops?
To some extent, the Boston Tea Party was the result of unintended consequences.
What Happened to the Fenians After 1866?
Ireland’s revolutionary struggle against Britain played out in North America as well as in Europe.
A Look at Slavery through Posters and Broadsides
How to identify the author, audience, date, and message of historical posters.
Literature and Culture of the American 1950s
Explore the cultural, intellectual, and political trends of the 1950s in a diverse array of primary and secondary sources.
Eugenics Archive
Traces the history of the eugenics movement in the United States.
African-American Perspectives: Pamphlets from 1818-1907
Pamphlets and documents from 1875 to 1900 highlight African American leaders and organizations.
The Vault
With the Freedom of Information Act, the government declassified thousands of documents, including those available here.
Samuel J. May Anti-Slavery Collection
With over 300,000 pages available for full-text searching, this is one of the richest collections of anti-slavery and Civil War materials in the world.
Oral History Digital Collection
In full-text narratives, more than 2,000 people from northeast Ohio discuss issues significant to the state and the nation.
Emma Goldman Papers
Learn more about Emma Goldman, radical and feminist activist, through this collection of primary and secondary sources.
American Radicalism Collection
From the Ku Klux Klan to the IWW, examine 129 historical documents from radical organizations.
Alcohol, Temperance, and Prohibition
More than 1,800 primary sources provide a window into the Temperance Movement and Prohibition.
Slaves and the Courts, 1740-1860
Delve into the complex history of slavery and the law with this collection of primary sources.
Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project
Primary and secondary sources document the minority struggle for civil rights in Seattle’s history.
Chicago Anarchists on Trial: Evidence from the Haymarket Affair, 1886-1887
The court proceedings surrounding the Haymarket Affair look at the event that led to the first “Red Scare” in America.
Thomas Paine National Historical Association
Explore the life and works of one of the most famous revolutionaries—Thomas Paine.
Territorial Kansas Online
Primary and secondary sources examine the growing divisions in Kansas and the nation prior to the Civil War.
Slavery in New York
Nine galleries explore the history of slavery in New York City.
Africans in America
Trace the history of Africans in America through Reconstruction, with 245 images, maps, and documents.
Teach Women's History Project
Provides teaching and reference materials on the women’s rights movement of the past 50 years.
Flint Sit-Down Strike
Provides a multimedia introduction to “the greatest strike in American history.”
Women and Social Movements in the United States, 1600-2000
Offers 45 mini-monographs on U.S. women’s history, each organized around an analytical question concerning a social movement.
Marchand Archive
Memorializes Roland Marchand with more than 6,100 images, including more than 2,000 advertisements, and 48 lesson plans drawn from his collection.
Historical Thinking Matters
Presents four guided investigations—on the Spanish-American War, the Scopes Trial, Social Security, and Rosa Parks—designed to teach students to read primary sources and construct historical narratives.
Urban Experience in Chicago: Hull-House and Its Neighborhoods, 1889-1963
Peruse this collection of over 900 items relating to Chicago’s Hull House to discover its influence on 20th century urban development.
Margaret Sanger Papers Project
Selected materials by and about the “birth control pioneer” Margaret Sanger.
Like a Family: The Making of a Southern Cotton Mill World
Offers oral history resources examining life in southern textile mill towns from the 1880s to the 1930s.
American Leaders Speak: Recordings from World War I and the 1920 Election
Access 59 sound recordings of 1918-1920 speeches by American leaders.
Online Archive of California
Explore California from Japanese American internment or the Free Speech Movement to oral histories.
South Texas Border, 1900-1920: The Robert Runyon Collection
This site showcases over 8,000 images documenting the history and development of South Texas and the border.
Civil Rights in Mississippi Digital Archive
150 oral history interviews and 16 collections of documents address the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi.
Our Documents
Presents 100 milestone documents in American history, from the Richard Henry Lee Resolution of June 7, 1776, to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Gifts of Speech: Women's Speeches from Around the World
More than 400 speeches by women—politicians, scientists, and celebrities.